Official Telephone Conversation Held between METI Minister Seko and EU Commissioner for Trade Malmström

On November 15, 2017, an official telephone conversation was held between Mr. Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Dr. Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade, the EU.

For approximately forty minutes from 4:30 p.m. on November 15, 2017, Minister Seko held an official telephone conversation with Commissioner Malmström, and they discussed the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement（EPA）and other issues. The outline of the talk is as follows.

Concerning the Japan-EU EPA, both sides confirmed the progress in ongoing efforts following the agreement in principle made on July 6, 2017, and also agreed that both sides will continue to make maximum efforts towards a conclusion of negotiations as early as possible.

Moreover, both sides exchanged views concerning WTO issues, including the ministerial conference which will be held in December 2017, and agreed that Japan and the EU will continue to cooperate.